Abstract: This dissertation explores the role that social enterprises can play in transforming the economy. The overemphasis on economic goals has undermined social and environmental objectives, causing many of the crises we face today. To address this situation, this paper brings together the bodies of literature on the circular economy, ecological economics and local economic development to provide strategies, proposals and insights for achieving such transformation, while analysing the definition of social enterprises and using the policies of economic restructuring as a framework to conclude that the role of social enterprises is to demonstrate that it is possible to reconcile these three dimensions into sustainable, attractive and profitable business models, and to inspire other actors in the economy to apply these sustainable practices and approaches until their widespread adoption becomes the new industry standard. Resumen: Esta disertación explora el papel que pueden desempeñar las empresas sociales en la transformación de la economía. El énfasis excesivo en los objetivos económicos ha socavado los objetivos sociales y medioambientales, causando muchas de las crisis a las que nos enfrentamos hoy en día. Para hacer frente a esta situación, este trabajo reúne la literatura sobre la economía circular, la economía ecológica y el desarrollo económico local con el fin de proporcionar estrategias, propuestas y puntos de vista para lograr dicha transformación, al tiempo que analiza la definición de las empresas sociales y utiliza las políticas de reestructuración económica como marco para concluir que el papel de las empresas sociales es demostrar que es posible conciliar estas tres dimensiones en modelos de negocio sostenibles, atractivos y rentables, e inspirar a otros actores de la economía para aplicar estas prácticas y enfoques sostenibles hasta que su adopción generalizada se convierta en el nuevo estándar de la industria.

Resumen: Esta investigación tiene como objetivo responder la pregunta por el papel que juegan las redes sociales en el activismo, qué tipo de prácticas activistas albergan y cómo esto da forma a un espacio feminista en la red. Para lograr responder a estas preguntas he trabajado de cerca con cuatro activistas de cuatro colectivos colombianos reconocidos por su presencia digital, creación de contenido y trabajo activista en el contexto nacional. A saber: Hiedras y Bolívar en Falda en Medellín, Feministas en Construcción en Bogotá y Maleza en Manizales. Los cuatro colectivos y las activistas con las que tuve la oportunidad de discutir son un caso representativo del feminismo digital en el país. Por lo cual propongo implementar la metodología de estudio de caso. Este diseño de investigación provee herramientas para cumplir con los objetivos planteados en cuanto me permite, a partir de los datos empíricos y la teoría planteada, construir explicaciones y reconstruir patrones de las prácticas activistas mediáticas. Finalmente, a partir del análisis del activismo digital feminista en términos de prácticas mediáticas digitales se plantea una discusión, algunas conclusiones y reflexiones finales. Esta investigación espera aportar a la literatura sobre activismo digital feminista. Dado que el material es reducido mientras que los grupos activistas son cada vez más y con logros y alianzas cada vez más importantes. En tiempos donde las acciones políticas desde diferentes flancos de la sociedad colombiana que van en detrimento de los derechos de las mujeres tienen tanta fuerza y presencia en redes sociales, las voces feministas en las redes sociales constituyen una fuerza contestataria importante. Por esto, considero que indagar más sobre las relaciones entre prácticas, medios digitales y feminismo, es un aporte hacia una comprensión más amplia del presente y futuro del feminismo y los movimientos feministas contemporáneos. Abstract: This research aims to answer the question of the role that social networks play in activism, what kind of activist practices they harbor and how this shapes a feminist space on the web. In order to answer these questions I have worked closely with four activists from four Colombian collectives recognized for their digital presence, content creation and activist work in the national context. The collectives Hiedras and Bolivar en Falda in Medellin, Feministas en Construcción in Bogota and Maleza in Manizales. The four collectives and the activists with whom I had the opportunity to discuss are a representative case of digital feminism in the country. Therefore, I propose to implement the case study methodology. This research design provides tools to meet the objectives set out in that it allows me, from the empirical data and the theory proposed, to build explanations and reconstruct patterns of media activist practices. Finally, based on the analysis of feminist digital activism in terms of digital media practices, a discussion, some conclusions and final reflections are presented. This research hopes to contribute to the literature on feminist digital activism. Given that the material is reduced while activist groups are increasingly more and with increasingly important achievements and alliances. In times where political actions from different sides of Colombian society that are detrimental to women's rights have so much strength and presence in social networks, feminist voices in social networks are an important contestation force. For this reason, I believe that further research on the relationship between practices, digital media and feminism is a contribution to a broader understanding of the present and future of feminism and contemporary feminist movements.

Abstract: Colombia and Venezuela have experienced a two-way migration since the 1920s. In the last decade, Venezuelan people fled to the neighbour Latin American countries in the most significant migration process faced in the continent. Colombia has become the most considerable receptor because of its closeness, and it demands that Colombian governments, humanitarian institutions, international cooperation, mass media, and civil society develop strategies to assimilate and achieve a successful social integration. This is the analysis of two processes of social integration through music, one institutional program run by “Batuta,” a foundation that promotes symphonic music practices to achieve social integration, and an individual migrant process of TráficoMC, a Venezuelan hip-hop artist based in Medellin, Colombia. Although they have different methods to achieve their aims, both have the same medium, music. This analysis reviews the complexity of using music in those particular social integration programs that have intended reducing xenophobia and endophobia attitudes to achieve a social integration that can conduce to a cultural and economic development of the whole population involved in the migration process.

Resumen: En un contexto de búsqueda de oportunidades de inversión, la impresión inicial que sobre un emprendedor se forme un inversionista influye de manera directa en su propio proceso decisional. En ese sentido, el presente trabajo busca estudiar las implicaciones que subyacen a este panorama inicial, puntualmente en un escenario de decisiones de inversión sobre iniciativas que apuestan por el desarrollo sostenible (i.e., inversiones de impacto). Para ello, haciendo uso de un caso de estudio, se despliega un proceso de análisis cualitativo que permite identificar las especificidades del estilo de liderazgo de un emprendedor de impacto determinado, así como la forma en que este mismo estilo podría afectar la eventual decisión de un potencial inversionista. En ese orden de ideas, el presente trabajo contribuye a la transferibilidad y profundización del tópico en cuestión, en diversas áreas del conocimiento. Abstract: In a context of seeking investment opportunities, the initial impression that an investor forms on an entrepreneur influences their own decision-making process. In this sense, the present work seeks to study the implications underlying this initial panorama, specifically in a scenario of investment decisions on initiatives that are committed to reach a sustainable development (i.e., impact investments). For this purpose, and using a case study, a qualitative analysis process is deployed, allowing the identification of the corresponding leadership style of a given impact entrepreneur, as well as the way in which this same style could affect the eventual decision of a potential investor. In that order of ideas, the present work contributes to the transferability and deepening of the topic at issue in various areas of knowledge.

Resumen: Esta investigación analiza el problema de la formación del canon literario a través de la propuesta del sistema poético del escritor cubano José Lezama Lima. Su método de enseñanza de los objetos de la imaginación (Curso Délfico) se articula con el concepto de eras imaginarias que desarrolló en su obra ensayística y ejemplificó en sus novelas Paradiso (1966) y Oppiano Licario (1977). Para ello, en el primer capítulo, se describe la propuesta de paideia que el cubano llevó a cabo desde la vida material como autor biográfico y, a la par, en el mundo de la imaginación a través de su obra literaria. Más adelante, en el segundo capítulo, se desglosa el concepto del canon y su utilización en la teoría literaria y la historia de la literatura. A este concepto general se suman los aportes que de la misma idea da Lezama a través del Curso Délfico. En el tercer capítulo se estudia el concepto de eras imaginarias en el corpus que integran los ensayos ""Preludio a las eras imaginarias"" (1949), ""Mitos y cansancio clásico"" (1957) y ""A partir de la poesía"" (1959). En el último capítulo se ejemplifica, a través de tres obras, tres de las modalidades del canon de Lezama: 1) la interdisciplinariedad desde sus Diarios, 2) la interculturalidad en su novela Paradiso y 3) lo interartístico en su novela Oppiano Licario. Abstract: This investigation analyzes the problem of literary canon formation through the lenses of José Lezama Lima's poetic system. His method for teaching the objects of imagination (named the Delphic Course) is linked to the concept of imaginary eras developed in his essays and exemplified in his novels Paradiso (1965) and Oppiano Licario (1977). In order to expose that link, the text is organized in four chapters. The first chapter consists in a description of the paideia proposed by Lezama, a project he carried out simultaneously in the physical world, through his unorthodox teaching labour, and in the imaginary world through his oeuvre. Afterwards, the second chapter develops the concept of canon and its uses in literary history and literary theory. In addition to this general outline of the canon, Lezama's ideas of the canon found through his Delphic Course are discussed. The third chapter studies the concept of imaginary eras through the corpus composed by the essays: ""Prelude to the imaginary eras"" (1949), ""Myths and classical fatigue"" (1957) and ""From poetry"" (1959). The last chapter illustrates three modalities of canon through three of his works: 1) interdisciplinarity in his Diaries, 2) interculturality in his novel Paradiso and 3) the interartistic nature in his novel Oppiano Licario.

Abstract: This work investigates a system that uses the reversible reaction CaCO3/CaO for energy storage. This system feeds on excess electrical energy for the endothermic decomposition of CaCO3 into CaO and CO2 (calcination). This reaction occurs in a solid-gas bed reactor that uses steam for fluidization, and the solid fraction remains in it. After the reaction, the CO2 is separated from the steam and enters a compression unit where it is pressurized before being stored at 110 bar. When an energy déficit occurs, the CO2 is expanded by a gas turbine and fed into the reactor, where exothermic absorption of CO2 on CaO takes place (carbonization). The large amounts of heat released in this process are used to generate high-pressure steam (110 bar and 520 °C), which is used in a conventional steam cycle to generate electrical power. In this way, the energy charging and discharging modes configure a cycle for the energy storage system. Thermodynamic simulations were performed in the IPSEpro process simulation software for the charging and discharging modes. For this purpose, mathematical models for the calcination and carbonation reactions were developed using the MDK module. These simulations were used to integrate over time, allowing the estimation of the progression of an entire cycle. Different cycles were evaluated for the conditions of interest, such as adding fresh CaCO3 before each cycle and different carbonation and calcination temperatures. In all cases, the production of 15 MW of electrical power was constant. In addition, the calculated data were used to determine power, thermal, and other efficiencies that facilitate system performance evaluation. Finally, the energy storage density of the system was evaluated under different conditions.

Abstract: Since early 2020, the challenging conditions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic had diverse effects on the various fields of the economy worldwide. More specifically, social distancing and confinement measures to avoid contagion disrupted the regular operation of education institutions at all levels. The 2020-2025 Development Plan of the Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts (Fachhochschule Dortmund, FH-Do) considers as an objective of high priority the diversification of their education strategy with a broader online course offer, which was accelerated by the current urging public health scenario, leading the administration to take measures directed to further elearning and Blended Learning (BL) development. This master thesis aims to propose a BL design and development framework that meets the long-term vision of the FH-Do by integrating into the university’s BL ecosystem de facto design methodologies, such as Instructional Design (ID) and User Experience (UX), all under the Agile/Lean project management (PM) methodology known as Scrumban. This is done while keeping a strict focus on learner-centered design and the pedagogical aspect by incorporating the theory of constructivism. Additionally, the proposed framework considers the long-standing e-learning industry standard known as SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model) for the development of interactive BL modules, and relevant policies that regulate the operation of the FH-Do’s BL ecosystem. Besides the due literature review in connection with this research, two basic SCORM-conformant BL prototypes were developed, a series of structured interviews was conducted with students of the European Master in Project Management (EuroMPM) for its review, and unstructured interviews were held with BL Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and with the supervisors of this master thesis. The data collection process, their corresponding analysis, and results are presented in this document in connection with the proposed framework. The applicability of the present framework at the FH-Do aims to benefit the digitization of lecture contents, regardless of the program and study level. The scalable nature of the SCORM-conformant BL modules developable under this framework hold great potential pursuant to a standardized online course offer.

Abstract: This research aims to create non-hurricane non-tornadic maps of extreme wind speeds for the mean recurrence intervals MRIs 700, 1700, and 3000 years, covering the Colombian territory. For infrastructure design, these maps are combined with existing hurricane wind speed studies, to be used as input loads due to wind. For each station with non-thunderstorm wind speeds time histories in the input data, following (Pintar, Simiu, Lombardo, & Levitan, 2015), extreme wind speeds corresponding to each MRI are calculated using a Peaks Over Threshold Poisson Process POT-PP extreme value model, then wind velocities with the same MRI are spatially interpolated to generate continuous maps for the whole study area. The annual exceedance probability for all velocity values in 700, 1700 and 3000 years MRIs output maps are respectively 1/700, 1/1700 and 1/3000. Regarding input data, not only time series of field measurements from IDEAM methodological stations are used, but also postprocessed information coming from the Integrated Surface Database ISD, and ERA5 forecast reanalysis data. This condition demanded a comparison of the different data sources, in order to verify the feasibility in the use of ISD and ERA5, this is downscaling support. The result of the comparison showed little similarity between the different sources, but taking into account that complete and adequate measured data from IDEAM was not available. Before to apply POT-PP, ISD and IDEAM data sources were standardized to meet the requirement of three seconds (3-s) wind gust speed, ten (10) meters anemometer height, and terrain open space condition. Due to the limitation in the classification of thunderstorm and non-thunderstorm data, it was not possible to take real advantage of POT-PP method, which was limited/restricted from non-homogeneous to homogeneous and from nonstationary to stationary, being equivalent to use the most common POT - generalized Pareto approach. Non-hurricane maps were created for data sources ISD and ERA5, using Kriging as spatial interpolation method. After the integration with previous hurricane studies, the results of ERA5 showed the most reliable final maps, despite limitations in the input data to guarantee downscaling support. ISD final map showed very high wind values, which are unlikely. These shortcomings may be corrected when complete IDEAM data-source and storm data classification are available. A complete R tool was implemented to solve the whole process, which is based in copyrighted code for declustering and thresholding generously given by Dr Adam L. Pintar adam.pin [email protected] - NIST, U.S Department of Commerce. Resumen: Esta investigación tiene como objetivo la creación de mapas de velocidades de viento extremo (no-huracán, no tornado) para los periodos de retorno 700, 1700 y 3000 años, cubriendo todo el territorio colombiano. Estos mapas se combinaron con estudios sobre velocidades de viento de huracanes para ser usados como cargas de viento para diseño de infraestructura. Para cada estación en los datos de entrada con historias de tiempo de velocidades de viento tipo ""no tormenta"", siguiendo (Pintar, Simiu, Lombardo, & Levitan, 2015), se calcularon velocidades extremas de viento correspondientes a cada periodo de retorno, usando un modelo de valores extremos de picos sobre el umbral - proceso de Poisson (POT-PP), para posteriormente interpolar velocidades de viento con el mismo periodo de retorno y generar mapas continuos para toda el área de estudio. La probabilidad de excedencia anual para todos los mapas resultantes con valores de velocidad de 700, 1700 y 3000 años, son 1/700, 1/1700 y 1/3000 respectivamente. En relación con los datos de entrada, no solamente se usaron las series de tiempo de los datos de campo del IDEAM, pero también datos de la base de datos ISD (Integrated Surface Database) y datos de reanálisis de ERA5, sin embargo, los resultados finales se basaron solamente en ERA5.

Abstract: The Colombian Navy currently has a deficit of logistical vessels to support other maritime and landbased units. Through the Naval Development Plan 2042, the Navy’s objective is to acquire, among other objectives, one multipurpose vessel or Landing Platform Dock and four logistic ships. This study aims to apply the MCDA methodology for selecting a logistic ship within the alternatives presented by the Chief of Naval Planning. In developing this study, a Multi-criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) model has been made for the Colombian Navy. The Simple Multi-Attribute Rating Technique (SMART) has been applied to select the most optimal logistic vessel according to the considerations and specifications provided by the Navy. Four alternatives of different designs and companies were assessed in this study: KERSHIP B2M, FASSMER MPV 70 MKII, DAMEN Logistic Support Vessel LSV 6513 and BCC 6012 (Cargo and cabotage vessel) from COTECMAR shipyard. Our main idea was to break down the overall problem into smaller parts, focusing on them separately. The SMART model was structured in a step-by-step procedure described in an easy-to-follow and user-friendly manner. Six fundamental objectives were identified and assessed by experts. The decision-maker then assessed the main attributes resulted from the expert’s evaluation. The decision-maker preferences were identified for the following criteria: cost, operational capabilities, and support capacity to determine the most preferred alternative. The results suggest that the B2M and BCC 6012 were the most preferred alternative, lying on the efficient frontier. Through sensitivity analysis, the decision-maker was supported to assess how efficient the vessel selection is and thus achieve an optimal choice within the alternatives. The results indicate that MCDA and SMART can support decision-makers in analysing, structuring, and interpreting priorities in a decision-making process. The main output of this thesis has been the implementation of a decision model to assist decision-making in selecting a logistics vessel for the Navy.

Abstract: Sexual reproduction depends on the transmission of exactly one copy of each chromosome by the maternal and paternal gametes. This is accomplished during meiosis when diploid progenitors undergo two consecutive rounds of chromosome segregation following a single round of DNA replication. In most organisms, this relies on the establishment of bivalent chromosomes consisting of replicated parental homologues physically linked at sites of meiotic recombination. In female mammals, bivalents are formed during fetal development when the lifetime stock of primordial-stage oocytes is established. However, they are not resolved until shortly before ovulation. Extending this period beyond ~35 years results in a dramatic increase in embryo aneuploidy. Depletion of the lifetime stock of oocytes during ageing culminates in menopause. Our previous studies indicate that Rec8-containing cohesin complexes also become depleted from oocyte chromosomes during female ageing. Consistent with cohesin’s role in maintaining chromosome structure, depletion of Rec8 is associated with destabilisation of bivalents chromosomes. Nevertheless, the mechanisms and timing of cohesin depletion remain unknown. Here, I investigated the possibility that age-related cohesion depletion is a consequence of leaky inhibition of the protease separase, which cleaves Rec8 during anaphase. I found that oocyte-specific deletion of separase did not prevent depletion of oocyte cohesin during female ageing. I, therefore, conclude that age-related depletion occurs by a separaseindependent mechanism. I next investigated the timing, during oogenesis, at which cohesin loss occurs. I found that cohesin is predominantly lost at the primordial stage before oocytes are recruited for growth. In addition, using an oocyte-specific deletion of Pten, I determined that this occurs independently of the decline in the ovarian stock of primordial-stage oocytes. Together, these results indicate that age-related cohesin depletion occurs at the primordial stage by a separase-independent mechanism. Other possible of mechanisms of cohesin depletion include protein damage and/or agerelated deterioration of chromatin structure. From a clinical perspective, my work suggests that “rejuvenation’ of fertility by activating the residual pool of primordial oocytes is unlikely to be successful in older women.